MOBILE, Alabama - The South's three running backs for the Reese's Senior Bowl have three definite things in common: All come from schools outside the football establishment, all have gained miles of yards on the ground and all they want to talk about is pass protection.

"I guess they just recognized the real talent when they saw it finally," Andrews said of the small-school backfield. "We didn't get overlooked by the size of our school. We're finally getting that opportunity."

Andrews (6-foot-0, 2119 pounds) led the nation in all-purpose yards, including 1,730 rushing, for the second straight season in 2013. As a junior, he joined former Oklahoma State star Barry Sanders as the only NCAA FBS players to gain more than 3,000 all-purpose yards in a season. Andrews' 144.2 rushing yards per game was the third-best average in the nation in 2013.

During the 2013 season, McKinnion (5-9, 215) gained 908 yards and scored 10 touchdowns on 147 carries, including 125 yards and a touchdown on nine carries in Georgia Southern's 26-20 victory over Florida. As a junior, McKinnon ran for 1,817 yards and 20 TDs on 269 carries. McKinnon completed his career with 3,899 rushing yards and 42 touchdowns.

"It's just good to be out here with all the high-caliber athletes and to be able to compete," McKinnon said.

View full sizeCoastal Carolina running back Lorenzo Taliaffero takes a handoff from San Jose State quarterback David Fales during practice for the Senior Bowl on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014, at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala. (Mike Kittrell/mkittrell@al.com)

Taliaferro (6-2, 230) led Coastal Carolina to the quarterfinal round of the NCAA FCS playoffs, where the Chanticleers fell to eventual champion North Dakota State. Taliaferro ran for 1,729 yards and 27 touchdowns, both the third-best totals in the FCS this season. He also caught 23 passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns as a senior.

"It shows that talent is anywhere," Taliaferro said. "D1, D1-AA, D2, anywhere. If you can play ball, you can play ball. It's an awesome opportunity to get to showcase your talent amongst the best talent in college football."

One talent the running backs were asked to show in practice is the ability to protect the South's quarterback. In perhaps the most spirited part of each workout this week, the running backs went one-on-one with blitzing linebackers and safeties.

"It's one-on-one and they get a chance to shine in front of an audience like this," South coach Gus Bradley said, "and they know it's on tape. So it's really cool, and it's really competitive."

And also important to their NFL futures.

"It's such a key," Bradley said of running-back blocking. "If you can be a first-, second- and third-down back, it gives you more power. It's also something that teams need - that third-down back. It's almost a specialty. So if a guy can play on first and second and do the same thing on third down, it gives him more power."

That's exactly what Andrews wanted to convey through his play this week.

"I'm just trying to show these guys I can pass block, I can catch and I can run the ball, that I can do it all well," Andrews said. "You've got to have it all to be an every-down back. You've got to be able to pick up blitzes. I'm just trying to erase all doubt and finally get some respect."

The running backs also have to convince skeptics that their sterling stats have more to do with their ability than with the level of their collegiate competition.

"I want to show them that I can do more than just dominate at the D1-AA level," Taliaferro said, "show them that I can compete with some of the best players in the nation, that I can pass block, I can catch the ball, I can do everything they ask of a running back.

"I definitely feel confident. They're on TV and, unfortunately, my school wasn't big enough to make it on TV. This is where I want to be. This is where I wanted to be. There's no use in holding your breath now. It's time to go out there and show what you can do."

View full sizeGeorgia Southern running back Jerick McKinnon carries the ball during practice for the Senior Bowl on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014, at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala. (Mike Kittrell/mkittrell@al.com)

McKinnon said pass protection was the No. 1 skill he needed to demonstrate during Senior Bowl Week, simply because he had done so little of it in college. After all, it's hard to block for yourself. McKinnon is at the Senior Bowl as a running back, but he played plenty of quarterback for option-oriented Georgia Southern, as well as slotback and fullback.

McKinnon said it's easier to play only running back, but admitted old habits are hard to break.

"There's less responsibility, so it's a little bit of weight lifted off my shoulders," he said. "When I look over the playbook, I kind of find myself looking at other positions, and I've got to tell myself to stop. I don't need all that pressure. It's a little different, but I can definitely just focus in on one assignment now."

Of course, if something happens to the South's three quarterbacks, he's ready to revert.

"I'm not going to say nothing, but if the coach asks ..." he said.

The Senior Bowl will be Andrews' second game at Ladd-Peebles Stadium this season: The Hilltoppers lost to South Alabama 31-24 on Sept. 14 even though Andrews had 198 all-purpose yards, including 122 rushing.

"They got us," Andrews said of the loss to the Jags. "It was a shocker. They snuck up on us. We overlooked them. We didn't get the W. We didn't play WKU ball. Can't get that back."